Sewing machine universal feed arrangement



June 30, .1964 w. G. STORY 3,139,051

SEWING MACHINE UNIVERSAL FEED ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Vague/G .'iozy June 30, 1964 w. G. STORY SEWING MACHINE UNIVERSAL FEED ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1962 United States Patent 3,139,051 SEWING MACHDIE UNIVERSAL FEED ARRANGEMENT Wayne G. Story, 7 Hickory Lane, Algonquin, Ill. Filed Aug. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 213,249 3 Claims. (til. 112-4434) This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to an improved universal feed arrangement for a lock-stitch sewing machine.

The invention comprehends a universal work-piece feeding mechanism which will insure absolute uniformity of length of stitches, and which will permit removal of the bobbin without requiring removal of the work-piece.

Universal feed mechanisms are, of course, necessary in most quilting or embroidering operations where it is necessary for a sewing machine operator to constantly change the direction the Work-piece is being fed into the machine under the needle. Universal feed mechanisms per se are not new to the art of sewing machine manufacture; however, few, if any, of the universal feed arrangements currently inuse on sewing machines are particularly suitable or adaptable for a quilting operation where a lockstitch, as'distinguished from a chain or dropstitch, is required. Many universal feed arrangements have been devised for sewing operations which do not require a lock-stitch, but these arrangements do not employ a bobbing mechanism of the type required to produce a lock-stitch. 1n the place of a bobbin, these arrangements employ a looper mechanism in combination with the needle.

Although, some universal feed arrangements have been devised to produce a loclostitch, they all have significant disadvantages which render then ineflicient or impractical.

One serious disadvantage of most of these arrangements is that they have a needle bar which rotates about a vertical axis thereby requiring the use of a bobbin which also rotates about a vertical axis with the needle. Thus, in order to remove the bobbin from this type of machine, the work-piece must be moved to afford access to the bobbin from the top of the table. This can be especially time consuming when the work-piece is in the form of a long continuous multi-ply bolt of material of the type used in the production of upholstery material.

Another disadvantage of certain of the universal feed arrangements currently in use is that they have a workpiece feed foot carried by a feed bar which is supported eccentrically relative to the needle bar, so as to result in lack of uniformity of stitch. lengths. When the workpiece is fed in one direction the stitches are longer than when the work-piece is fed in the opposite direction.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a universal feed arrangement for a lock-stitch sewing machine wherein the bobbin can be removed from the end of the machine without removing the Work-piece.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a universal feed arrangement for a lock-stitch sewing machine wherein all the stitches produced are of equal length, regardless of the direction the work-piece is being fed to the machine.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a lockstitch sewing machine, of a universal feed arrangement having a non-rotating needle bar and a bobbin rotatable on a horizontal axis, and having a concentric relation between the needle bar and feed bar wherein the feed bar is free to pivot on a pair of horizontal axes disposed at right angles to each other and intersecting each other at the vertical axis of the needle bar.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of ice a sewing machine embodying features of the invention, with portions of the structure broken away and other portions shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the material feed mechanism of the previous views;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end elevational View of another portion of the material feed mechanism of FIG- URES l and 2;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of a portion of the cam mechanism for actuating the needle bar and feed mechanisms of the previous views; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, and particulraly to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the sewing machine arrangement embodying features of the invention includes a base or table it) on which is mounted, at one side thereof, a vertically disposed standard 12 having at its upper end an integral arm 14 extending horizontally over the table in generally parallel relation therewith.

At its free end arm 12 presents an integral head 16 carrying a mounting bracket 18 for supporting the needle bar and material feed mechanisms in a manner described later in the specification.

Disposed within arm 14 is a main drive shaft 25; which is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. A main pulley 22 is mounted on shaft 20 outboardly of standard 12 and is driven by a main drive belt 24 which, in turn, may be connected to a motor or driving mechanism (not shown) in a conventional manner. Also mounted on shaft 2t intermediate standard 12 and pulley ZZis a hand and balance wheel 26.

Mounted on the opposite end of shaft 20, within head 16, is a main driving gear 28, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

A secondary drive shaft Ell is mounted within table 10 for rotation about a horizontal axis. extending longitudinally of the table in parallel relation with. main drive shaft Shaft 3ft is driven by a gear belt 32 carried by a pair of gear belt pulleys 34 and 36 mounted on shafts 2i) and 3%), respectively.

Mounted on one end, left end as seen in FIGURE 1, of shaft 39 is a bobbin rnechanism driving gear 38.

Also, rotatably mounted in table 10, above and in parallel relation with shaft 3% is a relatively short bobbin shaft 4% carrying at its outboard end a bobbin or bobbin mechanism 42 disposed for rotation about a horizontal axis. The structure of the bobbin mechanism is not illustrated in detail, as it may be a bobbin of the type employed on conventional machines for forming a lockstitch. Because of the horizontal axis of the bobbin mechanism, the bobbin case and bobbin can be readily removed from the end of the machine to replace the thread, simply by reaching under table ltl and releasing it.

At its inboard end shaft 4% carries a gear 44 which is disposed for engagement with gear 38 on shaft 39 for actuation of the bobbin mechanism through the rotation of shafts 30 and 4t).

Returning now to the head portion of the machine, as best seen in FEGURE 1, it will be seen that another relatively short horizontally disposed cam shaft 51 is journaled within mounting bracket 13 and carries at its inboard end a gear 52 disposed for engagement with gear 28 on main shaft Zil for rotation of shaft 50.

As best seen in FIGURES l and there are eccentrically mounted on shaft 50, intermediate the ends thereof a pair of outboard and inboard cams S4 and 56, respectively, for actuation of the control shaft assembly 120 and feed bar assembly 70, respectively. A crank 58 having a pin 59 projecting therefrom is pivotally carried by a pin 57 projecting from cam 54 for actuation of the needle bar assembly, indicated generally at 60.

Needle bar assembly 60 includes a vertically disposed needle bar 62 carrying at its lower end a needle 63 and having upper and lower portions for vertically reciprocating movement in upper and lower supporting members 64 and 66, respectively, of bracket 18. The upper end of the needle bar may be sleeved with a bearing 89 mounted in support member 64 and extending downwardly therefrom.

Needle bar 62 may be connected to crank 58 by means of a cam block 68 having its outboard end snugly sleeved over a medial portion of the needle bar, and being adjustably secured thereto by a set-screw 67. At its inboard end cam block 68 presents an inboardly facing, horizontally disposed cylindrical hole 69 adapted to pivotally receive and engage crank pin 59 and thereby provide a connection capable of translating the circular motion of the cam 54 to the vertical motion of the cam block and needle bar.

The material feed bar assembly, indicated generally at 70, includes a somewhat C-shaped, as seen from the end in FIGURE 2, feed bar 72 having a generally straight vertically disposed central section 74 and a pair of integral, diverging upper and lower sections 76 and '78, respectively, extending from the upper and lower ends of central section 74.

Mounted at the free end of lower section 78 is an annular feed foot 80 presenting a plurality of circumferentially spaced, downwardly facing teeth 82 for gripping a workpiece of material and moving it laterally across the table in any direction relative to the needle and bobbin.

At its free end feed bar upper section 76 is bifurcated to present a pair of spaced arms 84 between which is disposed a pivot block 86, having a central bore 88 extending vertically therethrough, and pivotally connected to the arms, for relative rotative movement about a first horizontal axis, by a pair of axially aligned bearing screw pins 90.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, pivot block 86 is, in turn, pivotally mounted on a trunnion 94 which projects outwardly from a support member 92 of bracket 18, for movement about a second horizontal axis extending at right angles to and bisecting the first mentioned pivotal axis of pivot block 86. Support member 92 has projecting upwardly therefrom an integrally formed shaft or spring guide 96 presenting at its upper end a spring plate 98 adapted to engage and support a coiled compression spring 100 disposed within a spring housing 102, carried by mounting bracket 18, and operable to bias the entire r feed bar assembly vertically downward relative to the mounting bracket 18 and machine head 16.

In opposition to this action of the spring the feed bar assembly is urged to move vertically upward by the action of cam 56. As best seen in FIGURE 5, as cam 56 rotates eccentrically it engages a roller 104 mounted on one end of a cam lever 106, fulcrumed to bracket 18 on pin 108, thereby causing the lever to rotate about pin 108. The opposite end of the lever engages a lower inturned portion of a vertical arm 110, extending downwardly from support member 92, and thereby urges arm and entire feed bar assembly 70 to move upwardly against the downwardly directed pressure of spring 100. Thus, the forces of the spring and cam mechanisms co-act to produce a vertical reciprocating motion for the feed bar assembly, including feed foot 82.

At its lower end central section 74 of feed bar 72 has extending laterally outward therefrom an annular shelf or collar 112 within which a round disc 114 is positioned for relative rotative movement. As best seen in FIGURES 4- 3 and 4, disc 114 presents a pair of slots 116 and 118 extending vertically therethrough, the function of which is hereinafter described.

Again referring to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the axis of bore 88 of feed bar pivot block 86 and the axis of annular feed foot 80 are disposed in direct axial alignment with each other, and also that the upper portion of needle bar 62 which is sleeved within bearing 89, which in turn is loosely received within pivot block bore 88, extends through bore 88, while needle 63 extends through feed foot 80. Thus the mounting arrangement of the feed bar assembly, as previously described, provides a universal connection between the feed bar and the needle bar whereby the former is free for limited pivotal movement relative to the latter about a pair of horizontal pivotal axes disposed at right angles to each other and intersecting each other at the vertical axis of the needle bar. Because of this concentric relationship between the needle bar and feed bar, movement of the feed bar and foot in any direction, relative to the needle bar and needle, will result in the production of stitches of equal length. In other types of universal feed arrangements wherein the feed bar is mounted eccentrically with respect to the needle bar, the stitches produced when the feed foot moves in one direction are longer than the stitches produced when the feed foot moves in the opposite direction.

Directional control and movement of the feed bar and feed foot is accomplished by the feed drive and control assembly, indicated generally at 120, and best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4.

The feed drive and control assembly 120 includes a vertically disposed feed control shaft 122 on which is slidably positioned a cam head indicated generally at 160.

The upper portion of control shaft 122 is mounted, for rotational movement above a vertical axis, in a support arm 128 of the bracket 18 and carries on its upper end a bevel gear 130 adapted to engage a mating bevel gear 132 carried on one end, the left end as seen in FIGURE 1,

of an upper horizontal shaft 134 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the machine adjacent arm 14. At its opposite end shaft 134 carries a bevel gear 136 which is engageable with a mating bevel gear 138 carried at the upper end of a vertical shaft 140 rotatably mounted on the ma chine adjacent standard 12. At its lower end shaft 140 carries a bevel gear 142 engageable with a mating bevel gear 144 on one end, the right end as seen in FIGURE 1, of a lower horizontal shaft 146 rotatably mounted in table 10.

At its opposite end shaft 146 carries a bevel gear 148 engageable with a mating bevel gear 150 carried on the upper end of a relatively short vertical shaft 152 rotatably mounted in table 10 and having its lower end connected to one end of a horizontally disposed crank arm 154 which has connected to its other end a vertically disposed handle 156.

Thus, it will be seen that by turning the handle in any direction, through a circle of 360 degrees, control shaft 122 can be rotated through a circle of 360 degrees. It will also be understood that the gear train described in the preceeding paragraph is only one way of accomplishing the desired result, and that various gear train arrangements can be employed to rotate the shaft 122 by a handle mechanism controlled by the machine operator.

Now referring again to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that cam head has spaced downwardly from its upper end an annular groove 166 adapted to receive and retain an inturned loop or forked portion 168 projecting from the lower end of a vertically reciprocating actuating arm 170 which is urged upwardly by a tension spring 171 supported from bracket 18. Arm 170 presents a pin 172 engageable with one end of a cam lever 174, fulcrumed intermediate its ends on pin 176 to bracket 18. At its opposite end cam lever 174 carries a roller 178 engageable with cam 54 on shaft 50.

Thus, it will be seen that the eccentric rotative motion of cam 54 is translated to the vertical reciprocating motion of control shaft 122 through actuating arm 176, spring 171, and cam lever 174, as best seen in FIGURE 5.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, a cam lever block 124 is sleeved over the lower portion of control shaft 122. Block 124 is generally square in horizontal section and is disposed to extend through the elongated rectangular slot 116 in disc 114 which is carried by feed bar 72.

Block 124 may be adjustably positioned on shaft 122 by means of a setscrew 125. At its lower extremity shaft 122 is journally carried by a support arm 188 of mounting bracket 18.

At its upper end block 124 has an enlarged portion or boss 190 having a pair of integral lugs 192 projecting from one side thereof and having a pair of pins 194 projecting from opposite sides thereof.

Lateral movement of feed bar 72 is accomplished by means of the cam lever and spring mechanism best seen in FIGURE 4. Cam lever 196 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends by pin 198 to lugs 192 for rotation about a horizontal axis. As cam head 160 is moved vertically down- Ward, by the action of cam 54 and related linkage previously described, the rounded cam surface 2% presented at the upper end of lever 196 rides up in a sloping cam groove 162 of cam head 161) and is moved outwardly from shaft 122. As this occurs lever 196 rotates clockwise, as seen in FIGURE 4, about pin 198 causing the lower end 202 of the lever to move in the opposite direction and carry with it disc 114, shelf 112, and feed bar 72.

Movement of the feed bar in the opposite direction is accomplished by a pair of springs 206 having their upper ends looped around pins 194 on boss 1% and having their lower ends engaging disc 114 to bias the disc in the opposite direction and thereby cooperate with cam lever 196 to provide a lateral reciprocating movement for the disc, feed bar, and feed foot.

The direction of the lateral reciprocating movement of disc 114 is controlled by the rotation of control shaft 122. The elongated rectangular shape of disc slot 116 permits limited lateral movement of the disc relative to the cam lever block on shaft 122, but as the drive shaft and cam lever block rotate disc 114 rotates with the shaft and cam lever block relative to feed bar 72.

Thus, as cam head 160 is reciprocated vertically it causes the feed foot to reciprocate laterally and the direction of the lateral reciprocating movement, in the direction of sewing, is controlled by the rotation of control shaft 122 through the manipulation of the crank handle 156.

It is therefore extremely simple for the maoll ne operator to control the direction of feed by controlling the direction of the lateral reciprocating motion of the feed foot. This is especially important in a quilting operation where it is necessary to constantly vary the direction the machine is sewing, or the direction of feed for the work-piece toward the needle of the machine.

An important advantage of the invention is that the concentric relationship of the needle bar to the feed bar insures that all stitches, in Whatever direction sewn, will be of absolutely uniform length.

Another important advantage of the invention is that the non-rotating needle bar arrangement permits the use of a bobbin mounted for rotation on a horizontal shaft,

so that it can be readily removed without removing the work-piece from the machine.

I claim:

1. A universal feed arrangement for a sewing machine comprising, in combination:

(a) lock-stitching mechanism including a needle carried by a vertically reciprocating, non-rotatable needle bar, and a bobbin rotatable about a horizontal axis;

(b) a laterally reciprocating feed foot carried by a lower portion of a vertically reciprocating feed bar; and

(c) mounting means for movably supporting an upper portion of said feed bar from said machine;

(0.) said mounting means including means supporting said feed bar for limited pivotal movement about a pair of horizontal axes disposed at. right angles to each other and intersecting each other substantially at the vertical axis of said needle bar;

(e) said needle bar having co-axial upper and lower portions extending through adjacent upper and lower portions of said feed bar mounting means and said feed foot, respectively.

2. A universal feed arrangement for a sewing machine comprising, in combination:

(a) lock-stitching mechanism including a needle carried by a vertically reciprocating, non-rotatable needle bar, and a bobbin rotatable about a horizontal axis;

(b) a laterally reciprocating feed foot carried by a vertically reciprocating feed bar; and

(c) mounting means for movably supporting said feed bar from said machine;

(:1) said mounting means including means supporting said feed bar for limited pivotal movement about a pair of horizontal axes disposed at right angles to each other and intersecting each other at substantially the vertical axis of said needle bar;

(e) said needle bar extending through said feed bar mounting means and said feed foot.

3. A universal feed arrangement for a sewing machine comprising, in combination:

(a) lock-stitching mechanism including a needle carried by a vertically reciprocating, non-rotatable needle bar, and a bobbin rotatable about a horizontal axis;

(b) a laterally reciprocating feed foot carried by a lower portion of a vertically reciprocating feed bar; and

(c) mounting means for movably supporting an upper portion of said feed bar from said machine;

(d) said mounting means including means supporting said feed bar for limited pivotal movement about a pair of horizontal axes disposed at right angles to each other and intersecting each other at sub stantially the vertical axis of said needle bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,445 Weiss June 23, 1896 1,354,919 Schwarzmann Oct. 5, 1920 1,493,639 Meyers May 13, 1924 

3. A UNIVERSAL FEED ARRANGEMENT FOR A SEWING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) LOCK-STITCHING MECHANISM INCLUDING A NEEDLE CARRIED BY A VERTICALLY RECIPROCATING, NON-ROTATABLE NEEDLE BAR, AND A BOBBIN ROTATABLE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS; (B) A LATERALLY RECIPROCATING FEED FOOT CARRIED BY A LOWER PORTION OF A VERTICALLY RECIPROCATING FEED BAR; AND 